Ore jig



Aug. 27, 1929. R. L. DENNlsoN ORE JIG Filed Jan. 10, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l 61H01 nu,

Aug, 27, 1929- R. l.. DENNlsoN A 1,725,388 ORE JIG Filed Jan 10, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 27, 192.9.A

R. L. 'DENNISN ORE JLG 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 10, 1927 ///Vm mw minlnv atto/cmq Patented Aug. 27, 1929.l

" UNITED STATES ROBERT L. DENNISON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ORE J'IG.

Application filed January 10, 1927. Serial No, 160,272.

This invention relates to jigs or concentrators for the separation ofcrushed ores.

It is the present practlce to separate the i more valuable metal bearing portions of ores from the chats and other foreign matterby crushing the ores and subjecting them to the action of jigs which aremore or less standard in construction and operation. These jigs usually comprise a plurality of cells each of which is divided into two compartments communicating with each otherat their ylower portions, one of the compartments being provided with a screen or grate for supporting the ore while a plunger is operable ver'- 4tically in the other compartment forl forcing water from the second named compartment upwardly through the grate or screen to lift and loosen the ore material whereby the metal bearing portions of the ore may settle upon the grate or screen by gravity.

` With such constructions, vertical reciprocation ofthe plunger obviously creates a suction upon its upward stroke which is substantially equal to the pressure exerted upon its downward stroke, and the orel liftedby` the pressure stroke does not have the proper opportunity to settle by gravity inasmuch as the suction stroke of the plunger immediately `draws the ore downwardly against the screen or grate. It also has been found that the operation of the plunger so greatly agitates the water, and consequently the ore, that the action of gravity is further interfercd with. vAs a result yof the disadvantages of such present constructions, it requires a considerable length of time for the metal bearing portions of the ore to settle by gravity7 and the action at best'is iml, perfect.

lt is an important object of the present invention to provide a water containing jig cell divided into compartments generally similar to the usual constructions, and to provide means for lifting the ore on the Vgrate or screen by pressure and to release Vthe pressure wlthout creating any suction whereby the full effect of gravity is adapted to affect the ore to eiliciently cause the separation of the component parts thereof.'

A further object isto provide novel means vfor effecting upward pressure of the water in the separating Ycompartment in which the j. grate or screen is arranged without causing undue agit-ation of the water or ore, and to release the pressure without 'creating any suction whereby the pressure action referred to is adapted merely to lift and loosen the constituents ofthe ore to permit the full force of gravity to effect the separation of the ore components.

A further object is to provide the lifting pressure referred to by intermittently admitting Water under a suitable pressure head into the cell.

A further object is to provide vnovel means or controlling the admission of the Water under pressure into the jig cell.

A further object is to provide means associated with the water admission means for varying the quantity of water supplied to` the cell at each admlssion to control and vary the lifting action exerted upon the ore on the screen o r grate.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the character referred to comprising a plurality of cells of the character referred to whereby the ore continuously may be fed into one of the end cells and How into and across successive cells whereby an eflicient separating action is obtained and wherein, due to the efficiency of the apparatus, a greatly increased capacity is provided.

A further object is'to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character comprising a plurality of cells arranged in stepped relation and wherein the body of water in and above the cells is maintained at a substantially constantJ height to exert suflicient pressure upon the ore on the several screens or grates so as to minimize any agitating action which may be imparted to the water and ore through the admission' of the water under pressure to the cells.

c A further object is'to provide means arrangedadjacent the upper level of the water to collect those portions of the ore which areof such specific gravity as to permit them to loat across the surface of the Water.

A further object is to provide a plurality of cells of -the character referred to which are separated by partitions, and to provide means for preventing the ,lodging of orc tions during the operation of the apparatus.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shownone embodiment of the invention. lIn this showing:

Figure 1 is al front elevation.

,materials-on the upper edges of the parti- 'portion of the valve operating mechanism,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the apparatus, V

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a similar. view on line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of a Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the water admission mechanism and controlling means therefor,

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig-l 'ure 1 and,

Figure 10 is a similar view on line 10-10 of Figure 1. y j v Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 indicates the apparatus as a whole including front and rear walls 11 and 12 respectively. Adividing ywall 13 extends longitudinallythroughthe apparatus, as' clearly shown in Figure 4. An inclined board 14 is arranged in the lower portion of the apparatus and extends throughout the length thereof to deflect water introduced under pressure rearwardly of the wall 13 into the forward portion of the apparatusto exert an upward'lift'ing force on the ore beds, in a manner to be described. The apparatus is divided transversely by a plurality of partitions 15, as indicated in Figure 3, to

form a plurality of jig cells, as will be apparent. The portion of the apparatus described is substantially of the usual construction and forms no part ot' the present invention exceptin combination with thev elements to Vbe ldescribed. A screen 16 is arranged in each of the cells. forwardly of the wall13, and these screens are arranged at progressively lower elevations from the inlet toward the outlet end of the apparatus, as will be apparent. A receiving hopper 17 is arranged adjacent the inlet lend of the apparatus to receive the gangue dirt fed thereto through a suitable supply pipe 18. As

in the usualV constructions, this gangue dirt is fed into the apparatus together with a sufficient quantity of water. The Igangue dii-t is adapted to pass into and over the successive cell compartments above the screens 16, andit is inthese upper portions of the cell compartments that the separating action takes place. The screens 16 are supported upon suitable preferably wooden frames 19, and adjacent one side,e'ach rframe is provided with an inclined member 20 for a purpose to be described. Adjacent' each member 20 a plate 21 is arranged slightly spaced from the adjacent partition 'io' and has its upper end 22 turned transversely across the upper edge of the partition. The

lower end of each plate 21 extends below vthe screens 16. Water is adapted to flow upwardly between each plate 22 and the lad'-- l jacent partition, and across the top of the latter to prevent the accumulation of ore materials on lthe 'upper edge of the part-itions. While 1 have described the use of., screens in each of the compartments, it will be obvious that suitable grates may be employed, but in practicescreens have been found to provide the most advantageous results. Y p

l Adjacent the outlet end of theapparatus a relzively narrow transverse vertical compartment 23 is provided, this compartment being formed by the adjacent partition 15 and a vertical wall 24. .The upper end of the wall 24 is provided with a vertically adjustable plate 25 mounted in a guide 26. lVater is maintained substantially at the level indicated at 27, and this water level is". governed by the position of tlieruppe'r edge ofthe plate 25. rlhe water overflowing the plate 25 is adapted to pass into a narrow compartment 27 formed between the wall 24 and the end wall 28 of the apparatus. The' lighter constituents of the ore are adapted to float upon 'the surface of the water, and means are provided for collecting such light constituents. As clearly shown in Figure 3, a plurality of floatation troughs 29 extend acrossthe apparatus from the'front wall thereof to the dividing wall 13. Each of thesetroughs is provided with an inclined bottom as indicated in Figure 9 to move material from the front wall 11-V whereby it may be` discharged through a suitable pipe 30, passage of the Imaterial from the pipe 30 being controlled by a suitable valve 31. i Y

Means are provided'for introducing pressure into the compartments rearwardly of the wall 13 to elevate andloosen ore on screens 16 to permit the heavier metal bear.

los

ing portions of the ore to settle to the bottoms of the beds. Referring to Figures 3,l

-iio

the pipes33 and is substantially cylindrical as shown. A cylindrical valve 36 is mounted to oscillate in each ofthe valve casings, being supported upon a shaft 37. The valve is provided with opposite ports 38 which are' adapted to aline with'the pi e 33 under conditions to be described. f desired, each pipe 33 and its associated valve casing may kend of a compression spring 43.

be formed as an integral casting provided with langes39 at opposite ends, theupper flanges supporting the tank 32. Each shaft 37 is provided outwardly of the corresponding valve casing with a crank arm.40 having a pin 41 in its free end. Adjacent its outer end, each crank arm is provided with an upwardly extending pin 42 to receive the lower These springs are adapted normally to swing the arms 40 downwardly to maintain the valves 36 in closed position as shown in Figure 6. A bracket 44 is 'secured to the rear face of 'the wall 13 adjacent each spring 43, and is provided with an adjusting bolt 45 by means of which the-tension of the springs may be adjusted. Each bolt 45 is secured in the bracket with which it is associated by nuts 46, a jam nut 47 being arrange against thelower face of the lower nut 46. An adjusting nut 48 is arranged on the lower end of the bolt 45 and bears against the upper end of the associated coil spring. It will be obvious that tension of the spring readily may be adjusted by moving the nut 48 vertically.

Adjacent each valve casing, an operating lever 49 is arranged, each lever being provided intermediate its ends with a cylindrical opening 50 in which is arranged an eccentric 51. Each leccentric is keyed or otherwise secured to a transverse shaft 52 supported -in a suitable bearing as indicated at 53.

The inner end of each shaft 52 is provided with a worm gear 54 rotation of which is adapted to rotate the eccentric 51 for a pur"-y pose to be described. Each worm gear isadapted to mesh with a worm 55 carried by a shaft 56 journalled in suitable bearings 57, as clearly shown in Figure 8.

One end of each lever 49 is pivotally connected as at 58 with a link 59, the upper end of the latter being pivotally connected to one of the crankarms 40 by the pin 41 carried thereby. Beneath the link 59, each lever 49 is provided with a lug 60y which'is adapted to contact with a bumper 61 to limit the downward movement of thevinner end of the lever. The bumpers 61 are so arranged that when the springs 43 project the cranks 40 downwardly to their lower limits of movement the valves 36 will be in closed position.

Means are provided for depressing the'- shaft 62 revolves. The shaft 62 is adapted. to be driven by a belt passing around a pulley 66, the shaft also beingl provided with progresses.

a free pulley 67 to which the belt may be shifted when it is desired to stop the rotation ofthe shaft 62. The positions ofthe pivots 5 8 are adapted to shift only as motion is imparted to the levers 49 by'rotation ofthe shaft 62, but it will be apparent that downward movement of the rear ends of the levers 49 will be determined by the positions of the eccentrics 51. For convenience in operating the eccentrics, the shafts 5'6 may extend5 through the apparatus and may be provided at their outer ends with operating wheels 68, as indicated in-Figure 4. Rotation of either of these wheelsobviously is adapted to shift the position of the` corresponding eccentric 51, thus changing the initial elevation of the rear end of the corresponding lever 49. The purpose of this operation will be 'referred to later.

Means are provided for taking off the various metal bearing constituents of the ore from time to time as the settling operation "It will be apparentthat the smaller particles of the substantially pure metal may pass downwardly through tho screens into the lower portionof the apparatus, and as this metal accumulates it can be drawn oli from time to time through pipes 69 controlled by gate or similar valves 70. The heavier portions of the metal which are too large to pass through the screens may be drawn oil' through similarly valved pipes 71, these pipes communicating with the spaces above the inclined members '20, as shown in Fi re 9. As will be understood as the description proceeds, the drawing oli ot' the ore materials causes the various strata of the ore `bed to seek new levels, and. conseguentl it will be understood that the shifting ot the lower stratum will fill the space above the member 2O as material is drawn therefrom. ln order to draw material from the strata above that which finds its way into the space above the member 20, a prei-' erably cast block 72 is arranged in the front wall 11 of the apparatus adjacent each of the screens. The block 72 is provided with upper and lower tapered passages 73 and 74 which communicate with valved pipes 75 and 76 respectively whereby material will be drawn from these passages.

In actual practice I prefer to employ tive of the jig cells, and the actual separation of the purer metals takes place in the first three cells. Beyond these cells there is considerable material which contains valuable metals but which are not in a substantially v to provide a trough 77 as indicated in Figure 5 trough. f

As prevlously stated, a water tank 32 is preferably employed for supplying water to the cells to effect the elevation of the ore 0n the. beds. A suitable pressure head is lo maintained in the water within the tank 32 'according to individual conditions, andthe pressure' of the water may be determined by a suitable pressure gage 78. If` desired, the water may be supplied to the tank 32 by pumping it thereinto, but in practice I prefer to employ an upper main reservoir (not shown) communicating with the tank 32 through relatively large pipes 79. The

, elevation of the main reservoir will of course, determine the pressure of the Water delivered to the apparatus, andthe tank 32 acts as a manifold for supplying water to the various pipes 33.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :y

The gangue dirt is fed into the hopper 17 through the pipe 18 in the manner lpreviously stated, and from the hopper the material flows into the first compartment and upon the screen therein. Obviously the continued feeding of material causes it to overflow the partitions 15, but as will be understood, most of the metallic constituents of the' orewill be separated from the chatsand other for'- eign material within the first threek compartments. ,It should be understood,Y however, that the invention is not in any sense limited to an apparatus employing aparticular number of cells or to one in which the principal separating action takes place within the 'initial cells, the conditions of separation depending partly upon the size and condition of operation of the apparatus and upon the material being used. As previously stated, the pressure head of water is maintained within the tank 32 for exerting an upward pressure' beneath the screens, and all the compartments are maintained full of water. The gangue dirt is fed into the apparatus with the usual quantity of water and the level of the latter is maintained substantially at the line 27 as previously stated. As thcshaft 62 revolves, the camsv 64 intermittently contact with the rollers 65 to depress the rear ends of the levers 49, thus elevating the crank arms 40 and swinging'the valves 36 to open position with the openings 38 in alinement with the pipe 33. When the valves assume an open position, the water under pressure flows downwardly through the pipe .33 and into the rear4 compartments of the plls, from whence it flows downwardly and ence lupwardly into the separators to exert Va lifting action upon the ore material on the screens. "Ihis action causes the water to then causes the cams to be released from the operating levers and the springs 43 act to 'depress the crank arms 40 to close the valves 36 and eut off the supply of water. In this connection it will be noted that no suction means is employed as is true with the usual constructions.l which employ plungers, and the material on the screens is adapted to freely settle not only without suction but also without undue agitation, and gravity is adapted to exert its force4 upon the materials to cause amore efficient separating action whereby the heavier constituents of the ore freely settle toward the bottoms of the beds. The action referred to is repeated successively during the rotation of the shaft 62, and substantially the same separating action takes`place in all of the cells. As pre' viously stated, however, the material which finds its way into the last two cells usually is of such a nature that it must be reground and accordingly this material may be drawn ott' through the valved pipes associated with the last two cells and collected from the trough 77. The finer particles of the metal pass lthrough the screens 16 and may be withdrawn from the cells through the valved pipes' 69. The portions of the substantially pure metal which will not pass through thel screens 16 may be drawn oli' by opening the valved pipe 71. The Apipe 71 communicates with the space above the member 20, and as material is drawn from this point, it will be i apparent that the level position previously occupied by the lower stratum of metal will be destroyed. As the separating action continues however, the stratum referred to tends to seek its own level, and accordingly additional material will be fed into the space above the member 20 from whence it may be withdrawn. In a similar manner the successive strata may be withdrawn froml the pipes 75 and 76, thesestrata also seeking their own levels as material is drawn from the pipes. The inclination of the member 20 serves to feed material toward the pipe 71, while the taperedpassages 73 and 74 serve the same purpose with respect to the pipes 7 5 and 76.

As previously stated, the operating levers y 49 are adapted to be actuated by the cams fixed in its bearing, and accordingly rotadirection similarly rotates one of the cams' tion of either worm wheel 54 in a clockwise thus lowering the center of the cam. This action does notalter the position of the pivot pin 58, but lowers the rear end ofthe lever below its normalposition. Consequently it will be apparent that when the roller 65 contacts, with the cam associated therewith, there will be a smaller downward movement of the rear end of the lever, and consequently the valve will be opened to a lesser extent. Thus it will be apparent that the supply of water at each opening of any of the valves may be governed according to the material which is fed into the apparatus.

It will be obvious that the various cells will be substantially filledwith material, and in actual practice it has been found desirable to prevent the accumulation of the ore upon the upper edges of the partitions 15. For this purpose I provide the plates 21, and also incline the upper edges of the partitions .15 and the upper ends 22 of the plates 21. Each successive pressure impulse delivered to the cells causes a small quantity of the water to iow upwardly into the space between each plate 21 and its adjacent partition, and this water flows across the upper edge of the partition beneath the end 22 of the plate, thus maintaining the upper edges of the partitions free of the ore material, and also assisting the movement of the material to successive-cells. v

As is well known, some of the Vconstituents of ore are relatively light, being of such specific gravity that they will float upon'the surface of water. Accordingly the' floatation troughs 29 are provided, and these lighter constituents flowing with the current of water toward the outlet end of the apparatus, will be collected in the trouofhs 29 from whence they may be collectedD from the valved pipes 30, as indicated in Figure 9. The excess water fed into the apparatus overflows the plate 25 into the compartment 27from which it may be withdrawn. 'f The provision of the plate `25 maintains the water at a substantial depth above the screens, thus preventing the creation of a water current across and`within the'upper portions off the cells, thus preventing valuable ore materials from beingswept from the cells by the current of water. The maintaining of the water level at the point indicated also serves to maintain some pressure above the screens to assist in minimizing lagitation of the ore materials whereby they are adapted more readilyto settle upon the screens. The chats and other foreign material are adapted to pass from the last cell into the compartment 23 from whence they may be collected and passed to the tailings elevator for suitable disposal.

It-is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes yin the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the `pirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined/claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tank having an inlet end and an outlet end, partitions dividing said tank.

into a plurality of cells each having for- Y said perforate means to pressure, and a.

plate arranged in the forward compartment of each cell toward the outlet 'end of said tank, each plate being arranged substan-` tially parallel to and slightly spaced from the adjacent partition and having its upper edge extending partially across and slightly spaced from the upper edgeof the adjacent partition and having its lower edge extending below said erforate means, whereby water will flow rom the space below said perforate means and over the upper edgesy of each partition to remove materials lodged thereon. I

2. Apparatus of the character descrlbed comprising a tank having an Vinlet end and outlet end and means for maintainin said tank into a plurality of cells, ore-supporting means arranged in each cell, a plate a current through said tank, partitions vividing carried by each of said-partitions and' spaced therefrom, said space communicatmg with the space below said ore-supporting means and with the upper edge o whereby materials lodged thereon will be removed when a current is directed through said tank. v

In testimony whereof I affix m si ature.

i ROBERT L. DE NI ON;

said partition 115 

